Biofeedback: what is it and what is it for?

We explain everything you need to know about a new type of therapy, Biofeedback.

Many things have changed since the standard mode of psychotherapy consisted of verbal healing proposed by Freudian psychoanalysis.

One of those things has to do with the loss of popularity of psychoanalysis, yes, but there is also another factor at play: today the development of technology makes it possible to propose therapy proposals that were inconceivable decades ago.. The use of a technique called biofeedback is an example of this.

Biofeedback: the technology of sensors applied to psychotherapy

Biofeedback is, in a nutshell, a technique based on a system of sensors thanks to which the patient is aware in real time of various physiological parameters describing the functioning of his body. that describe the functioning of his or her body.

Biofeedback creates a feedback loop that makes it easier for the person to learn to achieve optimal functional levels in areas such as Blood pulse, body temperature, etc. In other words, as the individual is informed in real time about what is happening in various parts of his body, he learns to associate these phenomena with certain sensations and, with a little practice, becomes better able to regulate certain bodily functions.

Thus, biofeedback makes it easier to consciously (and for our own good) control bodily processes that might otherwise go out of control. that otherwise could get out of control in certain situations, negatively affecting our quality of life.

The usefulness of biofeedback

Decades ago it was believed that the mental processes, everything that has usually been called "the conscious mind," were separate from the bodily functions that ensure our survival, such as our heart rate, our sweating, etc. The idea was basically that the two processes ran in parallel, or more specifically that the conscious mind is mounted on the basic physiology of our organism just as a peripheral device is coupled to a computer or a cell phone.

However, the introduction of biofeedback is a break with this belief.However, the introduction of biofeedback breaks with this belief, and has allowed the emergence of a new horizon of possibilities in therapy and learning in general. Thus, for example, biofeedback makes it possible to learn very effectively relaxation methods, to cope with anxiety and even more effective ways of breathing.

At first, the use of biofeedback remains a challenge in which we have to pay attention to both the sensations we experience and the information given to us by the sensors, but little by little the progress we make can become easier until it is present in our lives almost automatically.

In addition, biofeedback has shown scientifically proven efficacy in the treatment of insomnia, ADHD, chronic pain, anxiety disorders and phobias, and many others. Despite this, this technique is still of very recent appearance, and its usefulness and guarantees of efficacy are still a subject of discussion in the scientific communities, depending on the type of treatment to which it is to be applied.

Types of biofeedback

The defining idea of biofeedback is the one that we have seen, and precisely because it is so simple it can be applied to many cases and can be used with a wide variety of sensors.machines and computer programs.

This makes that the biofeedback technique can have several utilities depending on the form it takes. These are its different types.

Neurofeedback

Thanks to neurofeedback patients are informed about the way their brain is activated in certain situations. This makes it possible for the patient to relate subjective experiences about what he feels and thinks with the feedback provided by the machines, thus having a reference about at what times and situations progress is made and when it is not.

Neurofeedback is the most obvious link between the application of biofeedback and psychology.neurofeedback is the most obvious link between the application of biofeedback and psychology, as the measurements provide information about the state of the brain. However, there are also two other types of biofeedback.

2. Somatic nervous system recording

This is the type of biofeedback in which sensors collect information about the somatic nervous system, which transmits voluntary commands from the brain to the muscles.which transmits voluntary commands from the brain to the muscles. Thus, this method makes it possible to record information on muscle tone, mainly through a method called electromyogram.

3. Recording of the autonomic nervous system

The somatic nervous system is the one that transmits orders related to involuntary actions, such as the regulation of heart rate, body temperature or the type of substances secreted in the digestive system, among others. Therefore, using sensors on it makes it possible to better control these actions, using sensors on it makes it possible to better control these processes and correct them when there are imbalances..

How is biofeedback used?

Biofeedback sessions are always supervised by a therapist who will guide the whole process, from the setting of objectives to the course of each session (which lasts less than an hour).

At the beginning, the physiological function to be intervened on is chosen, its reaction is measured before the sessions, and the objectives are set.. Then, the biofeedback sessions are carried out, which are usually designed as if they were part of a training session in which the patient plays the most active role. Finally, the results obtained are compared with the objectives set.

Sometimes, the patient can continue to use the biofeedback technique outside the office once he/she has been provided with the necessary instruments and has learned to use them without asking for help. However, even if the therapist is not present in these cases, he/she can consult the records obtained by the sensors to see the progress that has been made.